Roberta J. Richmond

Birth:

November 15th, 1922

Death:

December 17th, 2012

Age:

90 years

Residence:

Pigeon

High School:

Pigeon High School - 1940

Survived By:

many cousins and friends.

Affiliations:

During her professional career, Roberta devoted herself to the Pigeon District Library where she was Librarian for 17 years. When she began working at the library, she usually worked alone. Then Mrs. Ralph Klein joined her as her assistant. By the time she retired in 1987, she had a staff of several people and had seen two expansions to the library building. While the library grew on the outside, Roberta helped it grow on the inside. She spearheaded the preschool story hour, preschool parents coffee hour, the toy program, senior citizen movie festivals, meet-the-candidates panel, and the quilters groups and displays. An avid reader herself, she saw the number of books at the library triple during her years there. With every program, she had an important goal: "to bring more people, more children, into the library."
Before taking the position of head librarian, Roberta was secretary at Pigeon High School for about 13 years, followed by nine years at Thumb Publications, Inc. She also had 10 years with W.R. McIntyre Insurance.
Roberta was an active community volunteer working with the Scheurer Hospital Auxiliary, the First United Methodist Women, and the GFWC Pigeon Area Womans Club (Pigeon Worthwhile Club).

Roberta was born on November 15, 1922 at her family home in McKinleyTownship, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude (Gwinn) Richmond. Roberta attended Mud Creek grade school, and was a graduate of Pigeon High School in 1940. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Pigeon.

During her professional career, Roberta devoted herself to the Pigeon District Library where she was Librarian for 17 years. When she began working at the library, she usually worked alone. Then Mrs. Ralph Klein joined her as her assistant. By the time she retired in 1987, she had a staff of several people and had seen two expansions to the library building. While the library grew on the outside, Roberta helped it grow on the inside. She spearheaded the preschool story hour, preschool parents coffee hour, the toy program, senior citizen movie festivals, meet-the-candidates panel, and the quilters groups and displays. An avid reader herself, she saw the number of books at the library triple during her years there. With every program, she had an important goal: “to bring more people, more children, into the library.”

Before taking the position of head librarian, Roberta was secretary at PigeonHigh School for about 13 years, followed by nine years at Thumb Publications, Inc. She also had 10 years with W.R. McIntyre Insurance.

Roberta was an active community volunteer working with the Scheurer Hospital Auxiliary, the First United Methodist Women, and the GFWC Pigeon Area Womans Club (Pigeon Worthwhile Club). In 1986 she received the honor of being selected as the Senior Woman of the Year. In 2011 Roberta was chosen as Grand Marshall of the Pigeon Farmers’ Festival Parade.

Roberta is survived by many cousins and friends. Her Funeral Service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2012 at the Pigeon First United Methodist Church, with Rev. John Britt, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Caseville Township Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Pigeon District Library, Pigeon First UMC, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Memories may be shared online at meyersieckbussemafuneralhome.com

VISITATION AT MEYERSIECK-BUSSEMA FUNERAL HOME, PIGEON:

Thursday, December 20 2-8 p.m.

AND AT PIGEON FIRST UMC:

Friday, December 21 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m.

Notification Published by Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home

Please contact the Funeral Services Provider if you wish to report any errors in this notification, or if you would like any additional information.